Some toads produce steroid bufotoxins with digitalis-like activity. These toads may be used in Chinese medicines and can cause digoxin-like toxicity if misused.
Toad species implicated:
(1) Bufo melanosticus
(2) Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor
(3) Bufo marinus
Chinese traditional medicines that may contain these bufotoxins:
(1) chu an wu
(2) yixin wan
(3) kyushin
(4) Chan-su (dried venom)
(5) aphrodisiacs
Any implicated substances should be retained for toxicologic analysis.